WP: Pedro Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00)
LP: Richie Cortese (0-1, 10.80)
CLEARWATER, FL – Will Gasparino’s first career triple gave the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 0-2) a brief lead in the sixth, but the Tampa Tarpons (78-51, 2-0) took back the lead late in a 7-5 victory to eliminate Clearwater from the playoffs on Thursday night at BayCare Ballpark. The 2026 season has concluded, and the Threshers will begin the 2027 series in April at home against the Tarpons.
After three scoreless and hitless innings to start the game, the Tarpons took the lead on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. Matthew Ferrara cut the Tarpons’ lead in half with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning, when a two-out rally began after Nolan Beltran was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second when Jonathan Hogart drew a walk. Both scored on a triple by Gasparino that gave Clearwater their first lead of the night.
Tampa tied the game at three on a two-out double in the eighth inning. They took the lead after the next batter, Wilberson De Peña, smacked a two-run home run to give Tampa a two-run lead. The Tarpons added two more runs in t...